Downingtown Area School District investigates alcohol incident at youth football camp

UWCHLAN TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- Downingtown Area School District leaders are investigating student volunteers who were reportedly drinking alcohol at a football camp.

It happened June 18 at Downingtown East High School's booster-run Blue & Gold Summer Football Camp.

It reportedly happened on day four of the five-day camp.

"You're putting your trust in these people for these camps for something to happen like this; I think it's very shocking," said Jessica Marasco of Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

A letter was eventually sent out to parents but didn't give more details about what took place.

Marasco says she learned about what happened through social media.

"I have two boys who play football; we were going to do the camp. We ended up being away for vacation that week, so they didn't do it. I can't even imagine as a parent finding out this," said Marasco.

A Downingtown Area School District spokesperson confirms to Action News that high school-aged student volunteers admitted to having and consuming alcohol on the school premises.

In a statement, the District says, "School and athletic administrators addressed the matter promptly in accordance with district policies and Student Code of Conduct and initiated a thorough investigation."

The statement also says: "The involved student volunteers were removed and not permitted to return to the camp. The adult volunteer partially responsible for supervising the high school students was also removed from the camp and is not an employee of Downingtown Area School District."

While families of students who attended the camp were notified individually, other district parents feel left in the dark.

"It's something that I'm always worried about with schools, is transparency. Hoping they're not covering up things," said Laura Mangini of East Brandywine Twp., Pa. "I know that teenagers party and do things like that, but you hope they're not doing it while they're supervising young kids."

Laura Mangini says this should serve as a teachable moment for everyone.

"I already have conversations with my kids -- and they're 10 and 12 -- about letting me know, letting adults know, and if anything like that happens, hopefully they'd let me know right away," said Mangini.

The district did not disclose any further details on how the students were specifically disciplined, citing "this matter involves student information."